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Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Villanova, PA -- Dylan Ennis
led six players in double figures with 17 points, as No. 7
Villanova subdued NJIT by a 92-67 count at the Pavilion in a game
which was much closer than the score indicated -- or the matchup might
suggest -- for quite some time.

Ryan Arcidiacono added 16 for
the Wildcats (12-0), who trailed by as many as seven early in the
second half but used a surge shortly thereafter which ultimately led
them to victory.

Phil Booth contributed 14 points and Daniel
Ochefu picked up 13 points with 10 rebounds for Villanova, which
hadn't won 12 games to begin a season since 1961-62.

"That
first half was a recipe for an upset," said Villanova coach Jay Wright.
"That was how they beat Michigan. We came ready to play. We jumped out
to an eight point lead. But we were very aggressive in pressing them
and it opened up the floor for them. They have a style that can upset
teams that are bigger. They gave us a lot of trouble. They're good."

Damon Lynn provided 13 points for the Highlanders (5-8), who fell
short in their bid for a second shocking road victory against a
ranked opponent this year. Tim Coleman poured in 12 and Winfield Willis
had 10 before fouling out.

Coleman's jumper put the visitors
ahead by a 44-41 count at the break, and they scored the first four
points of the second half to make it a seven-point spread on a bucket by
Odera Nweke.

However, eight in a row from Villanova, capped
by an Ennis lay-in, made it a one-point margin with 13:52 left. NJIT
countered immediately on an Osa Izevbuwa triple to go back on top
51-49.

'Nova gained separation with 12 straight from there,
as Ennis kicked it off with a layup, Arcidiacono added a basket and
followed with a trey, then Booth added a shot from distance before
Josh Hart completed the clip on two free throws with 10:29 to go.

Izevbuwa's shot proved to be the last time NJIT's deficit dipped below
double digits. The Wildcats added a 15-3 run to turn the contest
into a rout. Hart connected from beyond the arc to make it 77-56 with
4:59 left and the hosts cruised from there.

Villanova led 9-2
early on, but an 8-0 run by NJIT pulled it even, 15-15 on a bucket by
Winfield just after the seven-minute mark.

Hart's first shot
from distance gave the Wildcats a 26-20 edge, and the Highlanders
remained close. Another three, this time from Kris Jenkins,
provided a 36-30 edge for the hosts.

Coleman answered from
beyond the arc to kick off a 14-5 run which gave them a three-point
lead at halftime. Izevbuwa also converted a three-pointer during that
surge.

Notes: Villanova can match a school record by winning its first 13 in a
season for the first time since 1937-38 when it takes on Butler
Dec. 31 ... Despite shooting 60 percent (15-of-25 in the first half),
the Highlanders made only 9- of-31 in the second half ... NJIT
memorably topped Michigan at Crisler Arena by a 72-70 count on Dec. 6
... Big East player of the week JayVaughn Pinkston totaled 12 points on
10-of-12 shooting from the charity stripe.